I live just far north enough that we get to enjoy a colorful autumn. Right now it is spectacular. I have lived in Pennsylvania and I know that what we enjoy here is not on par with the colors that splash the countryside this time of year in the East. However, we do have some really lovely leaves on display these days! This was taken in my neighborhood yesterday when I was walking the dog.
Ok – moving over to the sewing room….. I was really productive this week. For starters, I had a few sales in my Etsy shop which is always exciting. Now that fall has arrived, I have been selling the cozies that I make for Chemex coffee pots. If you aren’t familar with Chemex pots, they make the best drip coffee. However, because the pots don’t sit on a hot burner or stove, the coffee cools quickly. I have been making these insulated covers for a while now. With this mad rush – 😉 – on Chemex cozies, I figured I had better make a few more for my shop. These came together quickly. I have been cutting them in batches when I have the time and then sewing them sort of assembly line style. I love the fabric on this one.
Here is another one. I had purchased this home dec fabric to use as a tablecloth but the piece I bought was too small so I am using it here. Lovely!
As an aside, I was taking some packages (Etsy orders) to the post office to mail. When I was there I saw that I had estimated the shipping fairly closely for one and had overpriced one package for a couple of dollars (not quite $2.00) I sighed and was telling the postal clerk that I can’t always come close when I quote the shipping charges and I wasn’t sure if I should refund the overage. She knows me since I have been there regularly lately (benefits of small town life) and said I shouldn’t only consider the post office charge. She asked why am I not considering the time it takes to prepare the package, go to the post office, stand in line. “That’s the ‘handling’ part in shipping and handling.” Honestly, I never really thought about it and was always only charging for the postage. It made me feel better. This little Etsy shop has taught me a lot in the past few months. Very nice!
My main finish for this week is my Christmas Lattice Quilt. I finally finished quilting it and even got the binding sewn on. Yay!!
Overall, I am pleased with this project. I quilted it by free motion quilting a little Christmas tree on each block. As always, some turned out great and others, not so much! They were just free-hand, though I did use chalk and draw two guidelines forming a basic triangle to follow. They don’t show up all that well since some of the fabrics are busy prints. I also straight-line quilted the sashing.
On the setting and corner triangles I FMQ’d snowflakes. These were really fun – again just free hand. I’m very happy with how these turned out.
The front of the quilt is pretty. The back….. Yikes! With each project there are lessons learned, right? Let’s just say that this quilt should only be viewed from the front. I had a remnant of a red and green chevron print that I used as the backing. The trees look absolutely awful against the chevron. They don’t line up with the geometry of the print and the bright green thread that I (for whatever reason?!?) used in the bobbin looks, ummm…. horrid. I should have used white and maybe the trees would have been less noticeable on the back. At any rate, by the time I saw how poorly this looked, it was too late to change. So, when I am a world-famous quilter and all of my work hangs in a museum 200 years from now, they will look at this one and just wonder what on earth possessed me. Shudder.
I am really trying to finish all of my WIP. Much as I am dying to make a new quilt top I need to finish up what I have already started. I hate having things stacked up. Tomorrow I will make the backing for the 1600 jelly roll quilt top that I made at the beginning of October. Hope to at least start the quilting on that one over the weekend.
In closing, does anyone need a good book recommendation? I have read a few of the best books lately. Here you go:
Me Before You by Jojo Moyes. Excellent story with the best characters. Total tear jerker so have a box of tissues nearby. Basically the story is about a young woman who desperately needs work and finds a job as a companion to a very unhappy, cynical quadriplegic. There are some really funny parts as well as some very sad. No more details though as I don’t want to spoil the story. Great book though.
The Namesake by Jhumpa Lahiri is wonderful. Again, great character development. This is a story of a couple in India that marries as arranged by their families. They come to live in the US in the mid 1960’s and raise two children. The story follows their assimilation into America and that of their kids. The insights into their culture are so interesting. Loved this book – a really, really good read.
The Birthhouse by Ami McKay is a story about midwifery during the World War I era. The details are fascinating and the story is excellent.
What have you been reading lately? I would love to hear what is good and what’s not so great. Let me know! Have a great weekend all. 🙂
Linking to Let’s Bee Social, Needle and Thread Thursday, TGIFF, & Crazy Mom Quilts. As usual, links to all of these wonderful sites are listed at the top of my page, under Link Ups.
What Alice Forgot
The Language of Flowers
The Aviators Wife
Into the Free. We skyped with the author in our book club
There are many more but can’t think right now.. I also loved Me Before You
Thanks for the list of suggestions. I will add them to my list. Soooo many books, right?
Have a great weekend.
PS. I really enjoyed the speaker at guild this week. Her fabrics are so cute and I didn’t know of her before. Thanks for arranging all of that.
B.
OK, here are my latest favorite reads: The Invention of Wings by Sue Monk Kidd; great book and even has a quilting theme running through it. I had a hard time putting it down. And then Orphan Train by Christina Baker Kline; like The Invention of Wings, it is historical fiction and an excellent read.
Love your blog Bernie!
I love Sue Monk Kidd and wasn’t aware she had another book out. You had me at ‘quilting theme running through it’. I just reserved it at the library and will pick it up today! Thanks for the tip. Have a great weekend.
PS… How are wedding plans progressing for Allison? I would love to hear. Let’s get together and catch up.
Those cozies are adorable–like having a little art with your coffee! Your FMQ looks great. I just started trying designs other than meandering and was too scared to quilt without a pattern. Now that quilting through paper is getting a little tedious, I might be ready to really do it free hand and hope for the best. Seeing your work is inspiring me to give it a try.
Thanks Janine. You are so kind. I am just starting to get a little more adventurous with the FMQ — it takes so much practice but I am starting to see some improvement.
Take care,
B.
Yes you do have some pretty color there while much of ours ( Western PA ) is gone now. I have never heard of those coffee pots so to learn about them while seeing pretty cozies was fun 🙂
HO HO HO pretty quilt! 🙂
How about a cozy for a french press? I wonder if that is even possible because of the metal frame. Kurt loves his press, but the coffee gets cold so fast!
Just finished the Invisible Thread–ok, and I am reading the Rosie Project which makes me laugh out loud. Love the leaves, come to Colorado in the Fall and I will show you some color!!!!
xx
Juanita
I bet you guys get some awesome color. We always think of you when our Aspen trees change. Because, you know, Aspen Colorado even tho you don’t live in Aspen. ☺️
What size and brand is Kurt’s French press? Maybe I could just do a rectangle that is insulated but fits around the pot, thru the handle and just has a strip of Velcro? It might keep it a bit warmer. I have a press to play with here but need his info. Email me the brand, size and the width between the handle. Love, b.
I think the tree quilting on the Christmas lattice quilt looks great! Who looks at the back anyway? And once it’s washed only you will ever notice the mistakes. When you are a world-famous quilter they will applaud your “bold choices”! I second The Aviator’s Wife and The Invention of Wings. Also Little Bee, which is a bit violent but terrific. Have a great weekend!
Thanks Mari. It looks ‘good enough’. Always a work in progress. Just picked up The Invention of Wings today at the library. Should be a good read. I am adding the others to the list!
Those cozies are cute, Bernie! Congrats on the sales. Your Christmas quilt is so pretty! Love the tree and snowflake quilting. Looks fabulous!
Thanks Lorna. The FMQ is improving slowly but surely. It takes soooo much practice.
Enjoy your weekend.
B.
Your Christmas Lattice quilt is very pretty! I love your quilting!
Thank you! I appreciate your kind words. Glad that you stopped over for a visit.
I sure do miss Fall color! None to speak of in San Diego county…I just finished The Sidewalk Artist by Gina Buonaguro and really enjoyed it. Also loved The Invention Of Wings and The Aviator’s Wife. Eleanor and Park is a good YA read, and I liked A Place At The Table by Susan Rebecca White. I’ve never had coffee made in a Chemex, but your covers are so pretty it makes me want to buy one anyway!!
Ok. Adding these to the list. Started The Invention of Wings yesterday and it sucked me in immediately. It’s all a trade. You get the ocean, we get the leaves.
Oh… love that quilt! Don’t worry about the backing… Great choice of fabrics, too!
Thanks Denise. Now I have to decide how to quilt it. Not sure what to do there. Any suggestions are more than welcome!!
Come by again.
Bernie
I love your Christmas quilt; don’t apologize for any part of it. It’s lovely! I’m a retired high school English teacher, and I am enjoying reading exactly what I want. (No tests, quizzes, or papers to grade based on required reading!) Thank you for suggesting books you’ve enjoyed.
Hi Jeri,
Thank you so much for your kind words about my Christmas Lattice Quilt. I am very happy with it, I guess I need to lighten up and not be so critical of my projects!
Glad to hear you are enjoying retirement. High school English would be such a time consuming job. All those papers to read and grade. Now you have time to indulge in pleasure reading without feeling guilty! Enjoy this.
Hope you will come by again.
Take care,
Bernie
Love the cozies. Kinda makes me want another cup of coffee. 🙂
Thanks for the book suggestions. I’ve read the first and liked it, she has another book out now. I’ll check out the other two. Have a great day!
Hi: I thought that I read there was a new book by JoJo Moyes. I will have to check on it at the library. I loved the two I have read of hers. The other two, The Birth House and The Namesake are both excellent. Hope you enjoy them. Right now I am reading ‘The Schooling of Claybird Catts’ and it is very good. Let me know if you have any suggestions!